Social Bowls Final

Bridge Park Bowling Club
10 April 2022

Bridge Park Bowling Club hosted the Auckland Social Bowls Final on Sunday, 10 April -  in glorious hot conditions testing the 12 teams from eight clubs competing. 

Usually, these teams play one game in the cool of a summer evening. To play three games in the heat of the day was a different challenge, as was playing on an artificial green for the first time for many teams. None of this affected Cityside Bowls from Rocky Nook. Cityside Bowls won all three games and were deserved champs.  Mt Albert's, Sweet As, was a close second with John Rowles from Balmoral third.

The standard of play was incredibly high. Some of these teams have been playing social bowls for years. We know that for many, mainly due to work or home commitments, social bowls is all they want to or can play. If you want to watch some top bowls, played in the right spirit - and let’s be honest - drinking the right spirit! We thoroughly recommend heading down to next year’s Social Bowls Final. 
 

Contributed by Alastair McKenzie

Winning team: Cityside Bowls from Rocky Nook – winners of the Auckland Social Bowls Final.
(L-R) Dane Smith, Liam Kees, Duncan Rhind, Rex Pratt

Region 1 Interclub 7s playoffs

7 April 2022

Men's playoff
Pt Chevalier Pirates started out well, winning their first match against Kaitaia RSA 2-1 with wins from the Singles and Pairs disciplines. The second match proved much harder with a close battle against the strong Birkenhead team. Alex Reed, very much in form, defeated Tony Grantham 21-3 in the Singles. The Pairs team went down fighting, 18-11, while in an epic encounter, the Fours drew 11-11, giving a tied result.

Heading into the final round, it couldn't be closer. Birkenhead was one game point ahead - they won their first-round 3-0 and had a three-point NTOS advantage.

The Pirates came out firing, winning all three games. Alex took his third win with a close 21-20 victory. However, Birkenhead also stepped up to win all three matches comfortably, to take the title with Pt Chevalier a close second.

It was a great effort from the Pt Chevalier Pirates, well done.

Women's playoff
Royal Oak Athena had a good start in their first match against Kerikeri. Rima Strickland in the Singles played well, going out with a good lead and withstanding a strong comeback to win, 21-17.

The Fours team had a very close match with all ladies playing great bowls when the pressure came on, winning 14-12. The Pairs combination in another close battle was edged out, 13-16.

The second-round matchup against a strong Takapuna side was well fought across all disciplines, with the Fours combination losing in the final end, 11-12. However, losses in the Singles and Pairs had Takapuna winning 3-0, which meant they could not be beaten - so the third round did not need to be played.

Well done, Royal Oak Athena making it to the playoffs.

Lots of Bollix!

Pringle Park
9-10 April 2022

Last weekend, Tony (Bollix) Balogh won the Champ Fours alongside his team.  It is no surprise as he is in top form, their Fours team has been together for a few years and has won the Fours every year for the last four.  

This was the final event at Pringle Park for the year and it was Tony’s fourth win for the season – a rare occurrence at any club to win all four and it has only ever happened once before at the Park.  Not only did he win all four titles, but Tony was also the match convener and Umpire. 

From the club, we would like to congratulate Tony on his achievements and wish him well at the Champ of Champs.  Tony is a great competitor; a good mate and he is a mentor to many players not only at Pringle Park but throughout the bowls. community.

Our Honours Board will read:
 Champ Singles: Tony Balogh 
 Champ Pairs: Kerry Chapman, Tony Balogh
 Champ Trips: Kerry Chapman, Brent Thompson, Tony Balogh
 Champ Fours: Tony Balogh, Steve Gaughan, Craig (Harry) Harrold, Johnny Mitchell.

Pictured below: Tony Balogh and the field of Pringle Park Fours

Contributed by Marty Griffiths